Life on the other side

Eden Gaha is co-executive producer on Rock Star, which aims to find
a lead singer for Supernova.

Eden Gaha jumped from hosting to behind-the-scenes - and
landed a gig with the reality TV master.

UNLIKE the endless queues of reality television contestants,
Eden Gaha doesn't have a burning desire to be in front of the
camera.

"You grow up thinking you want to be famous and I had a slight
taste of that," says the US-based Australian, recognisable here for
his TV hosting roles.

"I wouldn't say that I hated it . . . but I don't need it. You
should only do that kind of career if you absolutely have to do
it." That sounds like the hopeful souls lining up for a shot at
fame via Rock Star, the reality talent quest on which Gaha
acts as co-executive producer.

"It's an interesting transition from in front to behind the
camera," says Gaha, "but one that was intentional. That was the
plan all along."

Maybe not all along. Gaha started in television on the 1992 ABC
teen gameshow Vidiot, the aspiring actor's first hosting
gig. After two seasons, he moved on to front the shortlived
Take 40 TV on Channel Ten.

Gaha also appeared on stage in West Side Story and
The Heartbreak Kid. His TV credits include E Street,
Home and Away and A Country Practice.

In 1996, Nine called and asked if he liked animals. So began
four years presenting Animal Hospital.

"I was starting to get interested in the process of making TV,"
he says. "It was the control and creativity - the ability to be in
charge of what's going on, not just standing in front of the camera
and making noise."

The "real turning point" came when Gaha received a Centenary of
Federation grant to produce The Ties that Bind in 1999.
The documentary, which screened on Foxtel, followed his mission to
help his grandfather return to his home town in Lebanon one last
time.

"It was really about ethnic Australians going back to the
birthplace of their parents. It resonated for me," Gaha says.
"After I did one, I found out there were a lot of people who felt
the same and it turned into a series."

The family journeys of Mary Coustas, Jay Laga'aia, Wendy
Matthews and Cindy Pan were also featured.

Creating and pitching the program taught the fledging producer
about persistence and prepared him for his move to the US - and a
slide down the career ladder.

"I went from the best thing I'd done in my career to a month
later being a production assistant on (US music TV station) VH1,"
Gaha says. A few failed pilots later, Gaha secured a highly coveted
producer's job on Survivor All-Stars in 2003 and began
working with the global godfather of reality television, Mark
Burnett, creator of Survivor, The Apprentice, The
Contender and Rock Star.

"He's young at heart," Gaha says of Burnett. "He always looks
for absolute simplicity in everything that he's watching.

"Sometimes, as producers and professionals, we get caught up in
the nuances. Mark never loses sight of who is sitting at home in
their living room watching the show. He brings you back to what
should be the most compelling story arc."

Gaha returned home recently for the Australian Rock
Star auditions, which last year unearthed strong contenders
for the role of INXS lead singer (Canadian JD Fortune won the
gig).

"To have an Australian in the mix would be a good thing," Gaha
says. "Australians can vote and there's a huge pool of talent
here." This week Melbourne singer Toby Rand was announced as one of
the 15 finalists.

This year's quest is to find a front man or woman for new group
Supernova, comprised of Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee, Jason
Newsted (formerly of Metallica) and Gilby Clarke (ex-Guns N'
Roses).

Gaha notes that wannabe rock stars are a different breed to
Survivor contestants. "It's not just a shot at a million
dollars then they'll go back to their life. This is their
life."

Gaha hopes to work in Australia in the future - he and a
co-producer have Film Victoria funding to turn Loubna Haikal's
book, Seducing Mr McLean, into a film - but definitely
behind the camera.

The former entertainer hasn't for a moment considered lining up
for another shot at fame. "No way," he says. "I know too much about
reality shows to ever put myself on one."

Rock Star premieres Wednesday at 8.30pm on FOX8.

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Eden Gaha is co-executive producer on Rock Star, which aims to find
a lead singer for Supernova.